A mother has spoken of how she was inspired to lose weight so that she could be a good role model for her daughter.

Leanne Holt, 27, knew she needed to shed some pounds after she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter.

This is a form of diabetes which develops during a pregnancy as a result of high blood sugar.

Recalling the decision to lose weight, Leanne said: “Like many others out there I’ve struggled with my weight ever since my teenage years. I had tried many other diets before from slim fast shakes to just plain starving myself.

“Results were only short term if there was any and the weight would always come back again with more added.

“When I was pregnant with my daughter I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I had to change my eating habits for the sake of my unborn daughter and the weight started dropping off me.

“The day I gave birth I weighed less than I did in my booking in appointment and considering I birthed an 8lb 1oz baby I lost a fair amount.”

Leanne before she joined Weight Watchers

Leanne, from Worle near Weston-super-Mare, vowed to keep up with her healthy eating after giving birth.

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“I promised myself that I would keep to my healthy eating but I no longer had the incentive that eating badly and not exercising would harm my little girl”, she said.

“I gorged myself on sweets, chocolates and crisps. With adjusting to being a new mum and not having time to cook a lot of takeaways were consumed and I became the biggest I had been at 16 stone 5lbs.”

Leanne used to struggle to get up a flight of steps

During another visit to the doctor Leanne was warned that 50 per cent of woman who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes develop type two diabetes within five years of having birth.

Afraid that she wasn’t setting a good example for her daughter, Leanne decided to do something about it once again.

She said: “This scared me as diabetes runs in my family too. I wanted to be fit and healthy for my daughter and to be a good role model for her so I joined my weight watchers in July 2016 following a referral from my health visitor.

“I didn’t want to be one of those mums who drives to the park instead of cycling and who sat on the side lines at swimming instead of splashing around in the pool with them.

“I can honestly say it has changed my life. My first week I lost 9.5 lbs. That spurred me on to keep going and now 17 months later I’ve lost 48lbs on the plan and still counting.”

She decided to lose weight so she could be a good role model for her daughter

Leanne spoke a little of what life was like for her before she joined weight watchers.

She said: “I would get out of breath going up a couple flights of stairs but now I can run up the eight flights of stairs at work and I have joined the woman’s team at Yatton Rugby Club.

“The weight watchers app helps me keep track of what I’m eating, how many points foods are worth and there is such an amazing online community of fellow weight watchers who all help, encourage and support each other.

“It’s all about portion control and making health choices. If I want to have a mars bar treat or a cheeky weekend takeaway I can as long as I plan around it and have zero or low points foods around it.”

How Leanne looks now after joining Weight Watchers

Leanne is encouraging others to join Weight Watchers, she is a helper for one of the classes in Weston-super-Mare.

She said: “I highly encourage anyone thinking of not only wanting to lose weight but having a lifestyle change and to adapt their way of thinking about food to find a weight watchers meeting and pop along. It’s such a friendly and welcoming environment.

“My weight watchers coach Dee Neale is amazing, she has some of the best weight loss results in the country and if it wasn’t for her I would of given in lots of times. Many of times I’ve texted her asking for advice or a bit of encouragement which she happily provides.”

She now helps out at a Weight Watchers class in Weston-super-Mare

Have you lost a lot of weight? Share your story. Get in touch using james.wood@westgaz.co.uk , call 07870 505 906 or tweet me @JamesWood24